With the 2024 NBA Cup on the line, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks will go head to head in Wednesday's championship matchup at T-Mobile Arena.
Both teams are vying to replace the Los Angeles Lakers as the sophomore winners of the newly branded In-Season Tournament following their triumph over the Indiana Pacers in last year's grand finale.
Match preview
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In a battle of two of the Western Conference frontrunners this term, the Oklahoma City Thunder were too strong for a resurgent Houston Rockets side as they cruised to a 111-96 triumph when the teams faced off on Sunday.
A slow start to the game saw Mark Daigneault's men record one of their lowest-scoring first quarters (18) in recent seasons, but they recovered superbly over the remaining 36 minutes of action, winning each of the subsequent three quarters.
Fresh from his 39-point showing against the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be the point of difference once again as he recorded 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead his side to victory.
It is now nine wins from the last 10 games for the Thunder either side of a 119-116 defeat to the Rockets in early December, one of only five losses this term, second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been beaten four times.
While an NBA Championship remains the ultimate goal for the Thunder, a chance to pick up some silverware now awaits one of the youngest teams in the league which would do their title aspirations the world of good.
Wednesday's meeting in Las Vegas will see the Thunder face off against the Bucks for the first time this term and since April, when they claimed a 125-107 win to end a run of six consecutive defeats in competitive matches.
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Featuring in the NBA Cup semi-final for the second year running, the Milwaukee Bucks continued their renaissance with a 110-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks to book their place in the final.
Trailing by a narrow margin after the opening three quarters, Doc Rivers's men were close to suffering a second defeat to the Hawks in the space of nine days before they rallied in the final 12 minutes to claim a well-deserved win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a fifth straight 30-point game as he went for 37 points, including 10 in the final quarter, to go along with 14 rebounds and nine assists, leaving him one assist shy of a fourth triple-double of the season.
Since winning just four of their opening 13 matches, the Bucks have won all but two of their 12 matches to move up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with games in hand on the majority of the teams in and around them.
Going up against an opposing side that have given up the fewest points per game in the league, the Wisconsin-based outfit will need to bring their A game in offence if they are to emerge triumphant here.
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Team News
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Chet Holmgren remains unavailable for the Thunder with a right iliac hip fracture, while Ousmane Dieng and Alex Ducas miss out through finger and back injuries respectively.
Adam Flagler is ruled out for the remainder of 2024 due to a metacarpal fracture and will be re-evaluated within the next three weeks to determine his suitability to return to action.
Jaylin Williams (hamstring) is still unfit to feature and is joined on the sidelines by Nikola Topic, who is ruled out of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Damian Lillard has been declared fit to feature here by head coach Doc Rivers despite the point guard missing team practice yesterday due to a calf concern.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy) and Khris Middleton (illness) are both probable to suit up for Wednesday's clash, but Liam Robbins is expected to miss out through a sprained left ankle.
Oklahoma City Thunder possible starting five:
Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort; Wallace, Williams; Hartenstein
Milwaukee Bucks possible starting five:
Lillard, Jackson; Prince, Antetokounmpo; Lopez
We say: Thunder to win by 4+ points
The Bucks have started to find their feet in recent matches but still face an uphill task against the team currently sitting atop the Western Conference.
We are anticipating a highly entertaining affair and a tight victory for the Thunder when all is said and done.
Adepoju Marvellous
